Effects of three prophylactic interventions on French middle-schoolers' mental health: protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Adolescence is a strategic developmental stage in terms of preventing later difficulties and ensuring good mental health. Prophylactic interventions, which are conducted before the onset, prolongation, or worsening of difficulties, and aim to prevent or reduce symptoms or to promote wellbeing, therefore appear particularly appropriate for adolescents. However, existing prophylactic interventions conducted with adolescents have several weaknesses, including sparse theoretical frameworks, ambivalent evidence of their efficacy, and implementation and dissemination difficulties. In addition, no data are currently available on the effectiveness of such interventions in France. To fill this gap, a four-arm randomized controlled trial will be performed to assess the effectiveness of three prophylactic interventions targeting reactive, proactive and interpersonal adaptation in fourth-grade middle-school students, together with participants' experience and perception of the interventions. Based on existing knowledge about adolescents, their learning mechanisms, and field constraints, these three interventions have been designed to promote their learning and receptiveness to interventions. Compared with baseline (i.e., before the intervention), we expect to observe a significant decrease in the level of distress (anxiety and depressive symptoms, functional impairment, and psychosocial difficulties) and a significant increase in the level of wellbeing after the intervention, across the three intervention groups, but not in the control group. In addition, we expect to observe post-intervention improvements in the processes targeted by the reactive adaptation intervention (operationalized as coping strategy use and flexibility), those targeted by the proactive adaptation intervention (operationalized as the tendency to engage in committed actions and general self-efficacy), and those targeted by the interpersonal adaptation intervention (operationalized as assertiveness in interactions), but only in the corresponding groups, with no change in any of these processes in the control group. The results of this research will not only enrich our knowledge of the processes involved in adolescents' distress and wellbeing, but also provide clues as to the best targets for intervention. Moreover, the material for these interventions will be freely available in French on request to the corresponding author, providing access to innovative and fully assessed interventions aimed at promoting adolescents' mental health in France.This clinical trial is currently being registered under no. 2023-A01973-42 on https://ansm.sante.fr/ . This is the first version of the protocol.

Exploring the Health Effectiveness of a Physical Activity Program Co-Constructed with Students after the COVID-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND

University students have low levels of physical activity and high levels of sedentary behaviors that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Even before the pandemic, there was poor uptake of university sports activities. Therefore, it is essential to develop and test innovative programs to increase students' motivation to engage in physical activity in order to prevent any future deterioration in their general health.

OBJECTIVE

This exploratory study was conducted to test the effectiveness of a physical activity program that was co-constructed with students.

METHODS

First, a workshop drawing on social design methodologies and the fundamentals of physical activity programs was conducted to assess students' needs and desires in terms of physical activity. Second, the effectiveness of a program co-constructed with students on the basis of this workshop was assessed on physical and mental health parameters. The results showed that the workshop outcomes allowed the physical activity program to be tailored to meet students' expectations (e.g., session duration and type of activities). This innovative physical activity program was found to improve body image, autonomous motivation, and certain physical parameters. At the end of the 8-week program, the adherence rate was 89%, and 83% of the final respondents expressed a wish to re-enroll for the following semester.

CONCLUSIONS

Involving students and considering their wishes, needs, and objectives could facilitate the development of attractive and innovative programs.

Promoting Physical Activity Among University Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, sanitary context and e-learning have greatly modified student lifestyles and led to deteriorations in their mental health. An increase in anxiety and depressive symptoms and sedentary behaviors, reduction in physical activity, and a stronger tendency to move toward unhealthy diet have been demonstrated. This finding highlights the need for innovative interventions to promote healthy lifestyle among students.

Objective

This research protocol aims to evaluate the effects of an intervention program on the lifestyle and psychological state of students.

Methods

Students from University of Nîmes were recruited and randomly assigned to 1 of 2 following conditions: an intervention group and a control group. Participants in the intervention group were engaged in an 8-week physical activity program. Prior to the start of the program, design-based innovative workshops were conducted with participants to ensure that the program was co-constructed by the users and met their specific needs. Students in the control group did not receive any intervention. For each group, measures of physical activity, sedentary time, anthropometric data, sleep, physical condition, and psychological variables (eg, anxiety, depression, motivation, body appreciation, perceived control, well-being) were conducted at baseline and 9 weeks later.

Results

A total of 110 participants were initially included. Reporting of the results is projected for the spring of 2022.

Conclusions

It is anticipated that this innovative intervention co-constructed by pairs will promote a healthier lifestyle and psychological health in students. There is every reason to believe that a mobilized co-construction approach is a promising strategy to limit unhealthy habits and promote physical activity while increasing motivation. The development and evaluation of interventions to address the specific needs of university students is essential and could be transferred to other vulnerable populations such as people with chronic diseases or older people.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05019482; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05019482

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/36429

Promoting physical activity among university students with a co-constructed program during Covid-19 pandemic

Introduction

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, sanitary context and e-learning has greatly modified students’ lifestyles. An increase of sedentary behaviors, a reduction in physical activity (PA) and a stronger tendency to move towards unhealthy diet have been demonstrated. Most of the research is largely descriptive and to date, no interventional studies have been conducted to prevent the deterioration of students’ health.

Objectives

The objective of the present research aims to evaluate the effects of an intervention program on the lifestyle and psychological state of student. Its primary objective is to promote PA among students, to improve both physical condition and motivation to engage in physical activity for one’s health by promoting motivational levers. Its second objective is to reduce and/or prevent the deterioration of the health of university students.

Methods

Students from University of Nîmes were recruited and randomly assigned to one of the two following conditions: an experimental group and a control group. The experimental group participated to an 8-weeks program of PA (co-constructed by users during design-based innovative workshops) whereas the control group did not. For each group, measures of PA, sedentary time, anthropometric data, sleep, physical condition and psychological variables (anxiety, depression, motivation, body appreciation, perceived control, well-being, …) were carried out before (T1: october 2021) and after (T2: December 2021) these 8-weeks in order to evaluate the benefits from the PA program.

Results

These assessments were performed in October 2021 (T1) and December 2021 (T2).

Conclusions

Data are still being collected and will be presented in April 2022.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.